Crane Flat Campground Septic Leach Fields Replacement

The Crane Flat campground is comprised of five loops (loops 100 through 500, or alternately called loops "A" through "E") with a total of 160 camp sites. The campground has five comfort stations, currently each with its own septic tank and leach field. The comfort stations were constructed in sites that pose a challenge to design a septic system that would allow for gravity flows. The original leach fields were constructed in 1963 and were modified in the mid-1980s. The typical design life of a leach field, without relocation and large scale renewal of the surrounding soils, is typically 20-40 years. The age and the location of the current leach fields have resulted in multiple incidents of effluent surfacing in the leach field areas, indicating insufficient disposal capacity. Consistent visitor complaints about unacceptable levels of sewage odors are also indicative of a septic system that is not functioning correctly. Due to ongoing issues with surfacing effluent, and insufficient capacity, the septic system at comfort station building No. 3 (#6041) is completely nonfunctional and the comfort station has remained closed for several years. This area is currently being served with portable restroom facilities.

The project will replace all of the leach fields within the Crane Flat Campground. Actions include:

Comfort Station No. 1 (#6039) - Replace existing leach field with a pre-engineered leach field installed in the northwestern portion of the interior of the 200 loop, directly adjacent to the loop 200 campground road. Installation of this pre-engineered leach field would include the following activities:

Comfort Station No. 2 (#6040) - Replace existing leach field with a pre-engineered leach field installed in the southwestern portion of the interior of the 200 loop, directly adjacent to the loop 200 campground road. Installation of this pre-engineered leach field would include the following activities:

Comfort Station No. 3 (#6041) and Comfort Station No. 5 (#6043) - Replace existing leach fields with a single conventional leach field in the southern portion of the 500 loop. Installation of this conventional leach field would include the following activities:

Comfort Station No. 4 (#6042) - Replace existing leach field with a conventional leach field, located in the eastern portion of the area between the 400 and 500 loops. Installation of this conventional leach field would include the following activities:

The comfort stations are located in sites that pose a challenge to design a septic system that would allow for gravity flows. Because of these site constraints, the park is proposing to use a pre-engineered leach field system; an in-ground passive treatment that does not require pumping or aeration. This project includes the following approximate tree removal; 17 White firs (10 that are less than 8" diameter at breast height (dbh), five that are 16" - 24" dbh, one 48" dbh, and one 32" dbh) and two Western red cedars less than 20" dbh.